An Irish spin on science by science journalist Sean Duke

Is free will an illusion?

Free will. It goes to the core of being human, and defines what distinguishes us from the animals. It even underpins the basis for many religions. For example, freely choosing to follow Jesus, some believe, is the only path to heaven.

New findings from brain scans indicate that free will may be an illusion, as these scans clearly show that decisions are made in our brains, before we are even consciously aware of them.